Priority Hire Approved by City Council Unanimously!

On Tuesday the Seattle City Council unanimously voted (9-0) to adopt the Priority Hire Ordinance (CB 118282) following nearly two years of organizing and advocacy by our South Seattle Jobs Committee. The new law requires City construction contractors to hire workers from economically distressed zip codes in Seattle and King County to perform 20% of all work hours increasing job and apprenticeship training opportunities. In ten years by 2025 the percentage caps out at 40%.

Ray Hall and other leaders in Got Green’s South Seattle Jobs Committee can now celebrate this victory following years of organizing efforts to pressure City leaders permanently fix this problem and the lack of real opportunities through passing this legislation.

Got Green led efforts to build a united front made up of over 40 organizations called the Targeted Local Hire Coalition intent on winning this landmark jobs policy. “This is a real victory for our communities!” says Tanika Thompson, Got Green Board member.

Special thanks to our South Seattle Jobs Committee, Sierra Club, Puget Sound Sage, the Targeted Local Hire Coalition, and City Council for making it happen!